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Big Trouble in New York City: A Slice of Life Cultivation Fantasy
What happens when a scrappy coder and a runaway cultivation princess collide in the heart of Manhattan? Kung fu, mayhem, and the best Hotpot in Flushing!
James Wong thought juggling late-night code deployments and his mom’s matchmaking schemes was enough chaos for one lifetime—until he stumbled into Lanlan, a cat-eared princess on the run from a deadly sect. She’s got ancient powers, a knack for trouble, and a wardrobe straight out of a wuxia epic. He’s got quick reflexes, a killer left hook, and a questionable sense of humor. Not to mention his hot Latina sidekick. Together, they must navigate deadly assassins, magical hijinks, and the peculiar challenges of hiding a cultivation prodigy in the city that never sleeps.
Big Trouble in Little China with a side of dumplings and women brave enough to tame the naked blade, this urban fantasy/ cultivation adventure blends martial arts, sharp humor, and the irresistible charm of New York City.
James Wong thought juggling late-night code deployments and his mom’s matchmaking schemes was enough chaos for one lifetime—until he stumbled into Lanlan, a cat-eared princess on the run from a deadly sect. She’s got ancient powers, a knack for trouble, and a wardrobe straight out of a wuxia epic. He’s got quick reflexes, a killer left hook, and a questionable sense of humor. Not to mention his hot Latina sidekick. Together, they must navigate deadly assassins, magical hijinks, and the peculiar challenges of hiding a cultivation prodigy in the city that never sleeps.
Big Trouble in Little China with a side of dumplings and women brave enough to tame the naked blade, this urban fantasy/ cultivation adventure blends martial arts, sharp humor, and the irresistible charm of New York City.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 22, 2025
needs some polish
Cool concept, not the strongest writing. The dialog is odd and all over the place, there are a handful of really jarring “conversations” and then a piece of the dialog gets repeated a few pages later. There was also some confusion about the relationships. It read like in one draft the protagonist and his college friend hadn’t seen each other in a while and were reconnecting, in another draft they had stayed friends despite the sexual tension and still saw each other regularly but this published draft just shuffled those two together. Some scenes it’s like there was no break and in others there is talk of “reconnecting.” Some weird idioms as well, the characters despite all being from New York refer to their apartment as a “flat” a handful of times, that sort of thing.
All in all a fun read but could use some work. This is the opposite of my usual criticism of KU books, but it could really have used another hundred pages so things didn’t feel so rushed.
Cool concept, not the strongest writing. The dialog is odd and all over the place, there are a handful of really jarring “conversations” and then a piece of the dialog gets repeated a few pages later. There was also some confusion about the relationships. It read like in one draft the protagonist and his college friend hadn’t seen each other in a while and were reconnecting, in another draft they had stayed friends despite the sexual tension and still saw each other regularly but this published draft just shuffled those two together. Some scenes it’s like there was no break and in others there is talk of “reconnecting.” Some weird idioms as well, the characters despite all being from New York refer to their apartment as a “flat” a handful of times, that sort of thing.
All in all a fun read but could use some work. This is the opposite of my usual criticism of KU books, but it could really have used another hundred pages so things didn’t feel so rushed.
June 12, 2025
Loved it!
Really enjoyed Book 1. The start took a bit of suspension of disbelief, but everything came together by the end. Great mix of urban fantasy, action, and slice of life moments. I liked that the MC and his love interests felt like a real team, with balanced strength.
Overall a fun read and definitely picking up book 2
Really enjoyed Book 1. The start took a bit of suspension of disbelief, but everything came together by the end. Great mix of urban fantasy, action, and slice of life moments. I liked that the MC and his love interests felt like a real team, with balanced strength.
Overall a fun read and definitely picking up book 2
January 18, 2025
Bring on the fun of Big trouble in little China and Snake Pliskin and add a harem twist. Really enjoyed this book and laughed a lot. Looking forward to the next one.
January 23, 2025
This was a fun book. It was a tad on the short side, but it was a really fun read. It was a nice blend of funny, spicy, and action.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
March 10, 2025
Good Read 👍
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I sincerely hope that the rest of you out there enjoy it as much as I did.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I sincerely hope that the rest of you out there enjoy it as much as I did.
January 25, 2025
I reached the 70% point of this 202 page book, and I just wasn't very interested in continuing.
The MC is on his way home from work when he encounters a cat-girl on a bridge in NYC. He briefly talks to her before some men come for her. They start using "cultivation" techniques, and she empowers him briefly to allow him to help her. They escape, the MC enlists the help of his long time female friend that he's made out with numerous times in college but never sealed the deal, and away they go.
There's a distinct lack of building in this book. At 202 pages, it's hard to build anything, especially when you include a romance line to it. The long simmering relationship between the MC and his friend finally moving forward could work, but doing it as part of a 3-some doesn't work that great. The MC has known the cat-girl for all of maybe 2 days, and his friend has known her even less. But they "harmonize" so well that they are off to the races.
Everything is bare bones, except for the sex scene I read.
I don't see any reason I would continue this series.
The MC is on his way home from work when he encounters a cat-girl on a bridge in NYC. He briefly talks to her before some men come for her. They start using "cultivation" techniques, and she empowers him briefly to allow him to help her. They escape, the MC enlists the help of his long time female friend that he's made out with numerous times in college but never sealed the deal, and away they go.
There's a distinct lack of building in this book. At 202 pages, it's hard to build anything, especially when you include a romance line to it. The long simmering relationship between the MC and his friend finally moving forward could work, but doing it as part of a 3-some doesn't work that great. The MC has known the cat-girl for all of maybe 2 days, and his friend has known her even less. But they "harmonize" so well that they are off to the races.
Everything is bare bones, except for the sex scene I read.
I don't see any reason I would continue this series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews